Pipe Welder
Salary

Men represent the vast majority of Pipe Welders in the United States. People in this role can earn an average of $21.56 per hour nationwide. Career duration is the biggest factor affecting pay for this group, followed by geography. Health benefits are not enjoyed by everyone in this line of work, and nearly one in four lack any coverage at all. Medical benefits are reported by a strong majority and dental coverage is claimed by the larger part. For the most part, Pipe Welders enjoy their work and report high levels of job satisfaction. The data for this synopsis comes from respondents who took the PayScale salary survey.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

Job Description for Pipe Welder

Pipe welders have a physically intensive job in which they perform a variety of tasks, including assembling, installing and maintaining pipes for various processing systems; moving and handling objects; and communicating with colleagues on work-related tasks. They are also responsible for inspecting and repairing equipment, organizing and planning work activities, and operating vehicles, machinery, and equipment. Additionally, pipe welders may be responsible for training colleagues, and they must document any work they have performed.

Pipe welders can work both indoors and outdoors depending on the needs of their company, and they usually work during daytime hours. This position may be part time or full time, and overtime may be required depending on the needs of the company. Pipe welders may be employed by a wide range of organizations that deal with laying, maintaining, and repairing pipes. Typically, these individuals work with their supervisors, their coworkers, their clients, and individuals representing clients on a regular basis.

Most employers require pipe fitters to have completed a program related to piping and/or earn a pipe welding certification. Pipe welders should have good coordination, excellent communication skills, the ability to think both critically and creatively, and good judgement and decision-making abilities. They should also be able to troubleshoot issues quickly and effectively, as well as have the ability to evaluate, analyze and maintain equipment and systems. Pipe welders must continuously develop their skills.

Pipe Welder Tasks

Install pipe hangers, valves, support structures, and other elements of pipe systems.

Select pipes of the proper type, size, and material for project, cut them to the correct length.

Arrange pipes according to blueprint and weld them together using manual or semi-automatic welding machines.

Pipe Welder Job Listings

Search for more jobs:

Job Title/Company

Location

Popular Skills for Pipe Welder

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Survey results imply that Pipe Welders put a diverse skill set to use. Most notably, facility with Pipe Welding and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) are correlated to pay that is significantly above average, leading to increases of 20 percent and 3 percent, respectively. Most people who know Shielded Metal Arc Welding also know Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Welding.

Pay by Experience Level for Pipe Welder

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

More years of relevant experience do not necessarily translate to higher paychecks. Workers with less than five years' experience earn around $45K on average, and those who have five to 10 years under their belts see a higher median salary of $50K. Pipe Welders with one to two decades of relevant experience report an average salary of approximately $55K. Old hands boasting more than twenty years of relevant experience report pay that is more or less commensurate with that extensive experience; average earnings for this group come out to approximately $63K.

Pay Difference by Location

Houston offers some of the highest pay in the country for Pipe Welders, 14 percent above the national average. Tulsa is the lowest-paying area, 14 percent south of the national average.